‘Balloonerism,’ the second posthumous album released by Mac Miller’s estate, is an ‘incredible listen’
Since his passing in September of 2018 at the age of 26, rapper Mac Miller has released two studio albums recorded prior to his death. The most recent dropped on what would have been the singer’s 33rd birthday, January 19, 2025. The album, entitled Balloonerism, consists of 14 tracks varying in length and style that were written and recorded by Miller between 2013 and 2014 around the time of the release of his magnum opus mixtape, Faces.
Miller struggled with addiction throughout his time in the spotlight leading up to his fatal overdose in 2018. The singer reflects on his struggles with addiction and fear of death over the course of the album. Mortality is a strong theme in many of the tracks, particularly titles such as Do You Have a Destination, Manakins, and Stoned.
Ballonerism opens with the track Tambourine Dream, an instrumental track solely containing Mac playing the tambourine for 33 seconds. The tambourine can be heard on a number of his songs from this era, including Angel Dust and Friendly Hallucinations. The track may come off as messy and unfinished but I think it sets the tone for the album well, as it’s a simple recording of Mac making music.
A stand-out song on the album is DJ’s Chord Organ, made using the Chord Organ of singer-songwriter Daniel Johnston, which was given to Mac in November of 2013 after his contributions to a biographical film about Johnston’s life. The song was written and produced by Mac under his producer alias Larry Fisherman with vocals by SZA and Thundercat. This song has a more melodic vibe than most other tracks on the album and is completed perfectly by SZA’s dark, floaty vocals. Upon the song’s release, SZA said via Instagram “This track was left exactly how it was recorded all those years ago. No editing no tune no nothing. Didn’t seem right to change it. I can still feel the raw hangout it was born from.”
The album’s lead single 5 Dollar Pony Rides has a more bright and upbeat tempo in comparison to tracks like DJ’s Chord Organ but the lyrics contain many of the complex and deep themes consistent throughout the album. The song is a metaphor for temporary fixes to bigger problems. Mac uses the example of an emotionally distant relationship where he and the person he sings to are both using one another as a distraction from their struggles in order to avoid confronting them. The song’s upbeat and bouncy feel provides a nostalgic vibe that relates to unfulfillment in relationships stemming from childhood. He sings, “Heard you’re feeling’ pretty lonely, Your daddy shoulda got you that pony.”
The song Friendly Hallucinations is the second song on the album that features vocals by SZA and marks the two artists fourth official collaboration, Miller having produced the songs Warm Winds and UR on SZA’s 2014 album, Z, under his producer alias Larry Fisherman.
Friendly Hallucinations is about the delusions brought on by drugs and how they affect one’s perception of real life and real emotions. The song dives into how drugs can alter a person’s perspective of love and relationships, with Mac singing, “She’s falling for her hallucinations, what’s love without imagination?”
The song Stoned is very similar lyrically to Friendly Hallucinations. The lyrics tell a story about a girl who struggles with her mental health and uses substances to cope: “She breaks down the pain, she rolls up the weed” and separates herself from others. He reflects, “Isolation, she lockin’ the bathroom door.” Some speculate that the “she” in both tracks is representative of Miller’s inner self as opposed to a partner or friend.
Musically, Stoned is a standout track on the album, having a more jazz-rap or acid-rap feel. The song opens with a floaty, melancholic soundscape and introduces a smooth, blues-driven guitar that sets a tone consistent with the mellow, reflective vibe of the track. Mac’s verses are supported by a steady drum beat that drives home the relaxed and contemplative vibe. The way the guitar and drums come together in the chorus flows perfectly together alongside Mac’s psychedelic jazzy vocals, making Stoned, in my opinion, the best song on the album.
The 11th track on the album, Transformations (feat. Delusional Thomas) is a trip into the mind of Mac Miller during his “Sanctuary” era, named for his home studio which he nicknamed “the sanctuary.” During this era in 2013-2014, Mac honed his production skills under the alias Larry Fisherman while re-opening a connection to one of Mac’s previously used alter egos known as “Delusional Thomas.”
Delusional Thomas was developed into a character by Mac in 2012, the pitched-up voice appearing on tracks like Angel Dust and featuring on the intro to Mac’s sophomore album, Watching Movies With the Sound Off. The alter ego initially symbolized the voice inside Mac’s head and eventually transitioned into a devilish character who rapped about darker, more violent subjects. Mac released a “horror-core” mixtape on Halloween of 2013 entirely under the moniker of Delusional Thomas. Upon signing with his first major label in 2015 he no longer released under the Delusional Thomas alias; however, it’s debated that the classic pitched-up vocals signifying the alias can be heard in the background of some of his later works.
The album’s final track, Tomorrow Will Never Know is the type of song that is impossible to listen to while doing something else. The song runs for over 10 minutes but somehow leaves you wanting to hear more. It’s a hauntingly slow, psychedelic track, similar to Stoned. complete with echo-y vocals and a steady bass guitar line by Thundercat and an almost arrhythmic drum beatOverall the album Balloonerism is a beautiful view into the mind of a musical genius who was taken before his time. The tracks flow together perfectly and make for an incredible listen from start to finish.
From the beautiful instrumentals on songs like Stoned and Rick’s Piano to the thoughtful storytelling and lyricism found on tracks such as 5 Dollar Pony Rides and Tomorrow Will Never Know. This posthumous project takes the listener on a journey through Mac’s mind in the midst of the rapper’s struggles with mental health and addiction that would eventually claim his life.
